The news that QPR had failed in an appeal against Damion Stewart's red card at Norwich came as no great surprise, but how did Cardiff manage to get Darren Purse off for a worse tackle?

A level playing field?
Allow me to introduce you to two Championship centre backs – Damion and Darren. Damion is very quick and good in the air but has the attention span of a gold fish and is consequently prone to allowing strikers to wander in behind him while he’s thinking about other things. Darren has plenty of experience and commands a defence well but he’s as slow as a bus and his arse is just as square. Both play in the Championship because they’re decent players with flaws that keep them from playing at a higher level. They’ve both done a decent job for their respective clubs this season.

Darren and Damion were both sent off at the weekend, straight red cards, and both decisions were correct. Damion pushed a Norwich striker in the back as he ran through on goal at Carrow Road, Darren Purse launched an over the ball tackle on a Burnley player that caught him on the thigh and left him requiring ten stitches in a deep wound. One denied a goal scoring opportunity the other was serious foul play, both red card offences and well done to both referees (one of them was Andy Hall, bet you never thought you’d hear me say that about him) for getting it right.

Darren and Damion both appealed against the decisions on Monday. Damion went with an argument of mistaken identity because replays suggested that Damion’s mate Lee might have had more to do with the foul than him. Darren went for the sympathy vote because his ban would see him miss the FA Cup final next month. Some might say he should have thought about the cup final before he ripped the flesh from the bone of Andy Cole’s thigh but hey lets not be like that, we’re all friends here.

Darren and Damion both had their appeals heard on Tuesday – but here’s the difference. Despite playing in the same league, for teams separated by one position and three points, Damion had to go to Soho Square to have his appeal heard by the English Football Association while Darren got to stay at home and have his appeal heard by the Football Association of Wales. Damion got a two game ban, effectively three after being sent off just four minutes into his match, Darren got let off – effectively serving eight minutes for a foul that was one of the worst I’ve ever seen this season and left a fellow professional requiring hospital treatment to a gash in his leg.

And so the Welsh club gets to go to Wembley to face an English club in the FA Cup final able to select a player that should be banned because the Welsh FA let him off for an offence he committed in a league over which they have no jurisdiction whatsoever. Meanwhile the English club face the league champions elect this Sunday without their first choice centre halves – one injured and one, of course, banned.

For those that haven’t seen the incidents here’s video footage
Purse Sending Off
Stewart Sending Off

Now can anybody tell me how one is a sending off and one isn’t? You can add comments to the bottom of this article or post on the message board. I’d dearly love to know. They’re both the definition of their respective red card offences. How on earth can Purse get off and Stewart not? Dave Jones' assertion that the tackle was simply mistimed (yeh not half) and not worthy of a red card had them rolling in the aisles at the weekend. "I speak as a former defender" said Jones. yeh, you also speak as a manager with a cup final next month. If "I'm a former defender and it wasn't that bad" was the crux of their argument at the FA on Tuesday then his let off is even more of a disgrace than it already is. That was a horrible tackle full stop.

This is just the latest in a long line of anomalies that have gone Cardiff’s way since they reached the FA Cup final a few weeks ago. First there was the argument about whether they should play in Europe, which they won, and the argument about whether they should play the Welsh anthem at the English cup final, which they won, and now this dispute over whether Darren Purse should avoid a suspension and play in the final, and they’ve won that as well. It seems to me we’re making a lot of concessions here for Cardiff City.

Let’s not forget as well that Cardiff is a club that has played beyond its allotted time in this league with terraces while Plymouth have been forced to adapt their ground or face parts of it being closed despite being promoted at a later date. Cardiff is also a club that has been in court this season over the massive debt they’ve been allowed to run up while still bringing in the likes of Hasslebaink and Fowler on massive wages. It’s also the club that stayed in this league two seasons ago courtesy of the PFA, that paid the player’s wages for a month so they could avoid administration and the subsequent ten point deduction. A lot of concessions indeed.

Personally I’m in favour of them playing in Europe should they beat Portsmouth at Wembley, as long as they continue to be forbidden from qualifying through any Welsh competitions. You can’t have your cake and eat it, but it would be unfair for the club not to be able to qualify for Europe ever no matter how well they do. They should be able to qualify through either the English or the Welsh competitions. But not both. So the right decision has been made there and good luck to them in Europe next season if they do make it.

I’m against them having the Welsh anthem played at the cup final, just as I thought they should have put up with the English anthem at our play off final. English leagues, English opponents, English competition, English anthem. If they don’t like that then that’s fine, I know a lovely competition they can play in and sing the Welsh anthem to their heart’s content. It’s called the League of Wales. Given a choice between listening to the English anthem at the English FA Cup final and singing the Welsh Anthem in front of 250 people at Airbus UK FC you’d soon see just how important their anthem is to them.

As for the Darren Purse situation, this is a disgrace to the Championship league and needs to be sorted next season. If Cardiff play in the English Football League then their appeals and disciplinary hearings must, from next season, be heard by the English authorities. How can it be fair that every other team in the league, and their opponents in the cup final, have their hearings with one FA while Cardiff have it with another? Anybody who’s on the verge of writing to me at this point and saying both FA’s are impartial or as bad as each other or Cardiff gain no advantage through this arrangement or whatever – I invite you to watch those two video clips again before putting fingers to keyboard.

Nobody will ever convince me that there hasn't been a massive sympathy vote on this appeal. Yes it would be a shame if Darren Purse missed the one and only cup final of his career but it was a shame when Paul Scholes missed the European Cup Final. History is littered with people suspended for the final for bookings and sendings off collected in previous rounds, Laurent Blanc missed the French World Cup final after Slaven Bilic cheated you may recall. Rules are rules, we can't go round letting people off becuase it would be a shame.

All 24 teams in the Championship should be under the same governing body. How on earth can it be right that appeals from Burnley from a game against Cardiff go to a football association in one country while appeals from Cardiff from a game against Burnley go to a football association in another? It’s not, and now to make matters worse one of those football associations has compromised the situation still further by making a poor decision. Should Damion Stewart have been allowed to appeal to the Jamaican FA over his sending off at Norwich in the hope of getting a more lenient judgement? Of course not. It's an English League under English control and the English authorities should hear the cases, just as the Welsh authorities should hear appeals from the League of Wales and the Scottish authorities hear appeals from the SPL and so on.

To maintain its integrity the Championship needs to be a level playing field for all teams and in my opinion the tale of Darren and Damion has shown that it's not. On this occasion Cardiff have benefitted, in the past it may have been that the Welsh FA has gone against them unfairly so as not to appear biased. Why not remove all doubt and have everybody under the same governing body?

Player of the Year
This weekend sees the annual glitzy QPR Player of the Year dinner and dance taking place and the big question on everybody’s lips is – is this the first time Bernie and Flavio will have been in a Novotel? If they turn up then I’d say quite possibly yes. I can’t see it being held there next year if I’m honest.

I won’t be there on Sunday, I always promise to go but never quite have the funds when the time comes, but I thought I’d offer one or two thoughts on where I think the awards might go, and where I’d award them if it was my choice. Next week we’ll start counting the votes for the annual LFW awards - after a Richard Langley 35 yarder at Portsmouth missed out on the goal of the season prize in 2000 because the award had already been handed out I’ve always said the voting shouldn’t be done until after the last game. While that’s not exactly practical for the purposes of an end of season dinner it can be done on a website, so next week you get a chance to have your say. Look out for that.

Obviously the big award on Sunday night is the Player of the Year trophy and all the smart money is going on Martin Rowlands for this one. Rowlands’ season took off when Mick Harford took over as caretaker, and went from strength to strength once De Canio took over and made him a fixture in the middle of midfield. He’d always been used on the wing by previous managers and although Waddock did try and use him in the middle when he was in charge Martin’s other main problem, injuries, denied him a run in there. With no injuries and a place in the middle of midfield his for most of this season it’s no surprise to see him doing so well – although having said that his superb run of form started in the Norwich home game where he actually played right back.

There’s two or three candidates rivalling him for the main award, led by Lee Camp. The young keeper ‘had one’ at Norwich at the weekend but he’s certainly won us more points than he’s lost us this season. Buzsaky and Vine have also had mentions, while earlier in the season Stewart and Leigertwood were leading the polls although their late arrival puts me off the first two and loss of form at the back end of the season rules out the latter pair in my opinion.

It’s certainly between Camp and Rowlands for me and I do fear that Campy may suffer from fans’ short memory syndrome – at the start of the season when John Gregory was doing his “I’m getting the sack so we’ll play handball in training and pick Rehman and Moore down the right wing” act most of the games were Camp against the world. Everybody talks about the five goal hammering at West Brom, Camp actually got man of the match in that and it could have been at least twice as bad without him. Likewise the Southampton home game. These perhaps don’t stick in the mind quite as well as his poor display at Norwich, or Rowlands’ performances lately, but apart from the opening day at Bristol City where he was majestic Rowlands didn’t play very well in those early games while the keeper has remained consistent throughout. I also feel that Rowlands is currently enjoying a similar love affair with the fans that Lee Cook had at the end of his time here, where everybody turns a blind eye to his faults.

Having said that the simplest answer is often the right one and Rowlands, for me, is clearly the player of the year this year. Important goals, all action displays, more man of the match awards than anybody else, great at both ends of the pitch – he’s been superb for most of the season, more so than anybody else. He’ll pick up the trophy for a second time on Sunday I’m sure, and my God he deserves it. Camp a close second.

Young player of the year is perhaps less clear cut with the likes of Ephraim, Connolly, Balanta, Mancienne and possibly Blackstock as well all vying for this. Blackstock has been poor until the last couple of games and while Mancienne has been steady all season I’d still go for either Connolly or Ephraim ahead of him. I would like to see some form of recognition go Michael’s way after 18 months of good service on loan, few people can have spent so much time at a club without actually signing for it before and it must be a strange feeling for him to be playing his last game this weekend. I don’t think we’ll sign him, and I don’t think he’ll get in the Chelsea team – Wolves wait in the wings.

Ephraim has been inconsistent but has played a lot of games, Connolly has been consistently excellent but has only played half a season and Balanta has only made ten appearances in total. It’s tough one but for progress made against the odds at such a young age I think I’d go for Balanta. When he played at Watford he looked so naïve it was untrue, but through the clear shock of a Championship debut against one of the leading teams Balanta laid on two goals. In the last two games he’s been one of the best players on the pitch and looks at home at this level already. Tremendous progress from him, and a very bright future.

For goal of the season I’ve gone for Leigertwood’s first against Stoke. This was a first national airing for the new look QPR side and we really put on a show for the cameras. The two goals by Leigertwood, the first a 30 yard half volley that fizzed into the bottom corner, came at the end of a nice passing move and crowned a terrific performance. I think Buzsaky’s against Blackpool may scoop this award, but I’m still not convinced he meant it. You may disagree. Look forward to receiving your votes and nominations next week.

Ok, what’s plan B?
Everybody now seems to be in agreement that while we’ve made great strides in the second half of this season, we’re still some way short of a team capable of making a big move at the right end of this league next term. That’s understandable, Luigi De Canio essentially started from rock bottom with a team suffering from years of underinvestment in players, crippled by debt, and easily the worst in the league. You can’t expect him to turn it into a Championship winning side in six months and one transfer window. Just look how delighted Glenn Roeder was at the weekend to stay up with a game to spare, we’ve been safe for six weeks or more.

So far all the talk has been about players. We need to strengthen at centre half and full back, Ramage from Newcastle and Cranie from Portsmouth seem to be done deals while Danny Shittu could be back at Loftus Road if, as looks increasingly likely, Watford shit out and stay with us for next season. We could do with options on the wing where we currently only have Ephraim as a natural for that position and the likes of Buzsaky and Vine shoe horned in there – Lee Cook is allegedly also in the done deal pile on that front but there’s no names yet for a holding central midfielder which would also come in useful with Mahon and Leigertwood not really convincing me at the moment. We discussed the options for the attack last week and I think we need two players at least, a big name, big money signing and a great youngster from the Prem on loan.

But new players aren’t all we need. The players we have now would have made the play offs this year but for the leads we’ve thrown away and the last minute goals we’ve conceded. A change in attitude is also required, enough of this sitting back and dropping deep business when into the lead, just keep doing what you did to get you in the winning position in the first place.

The thing that concerns me at the moment more than the need for squad strengthening or anything else is the lack of a ‘Plan B’ when circumstances change. At Norwich on Saturday the sending off of Damion Stewart wasn’t the greatest way to start a game by any means but there are ways of playing with ten men and being awkward to beat. In the end QPR were easier than Karen Matthews and Norwich could have had as many goals as she’s got kids. We had a team and a set up that we thought was good enough to beat Norwich, we lost one of those players, and before you know it we’re a goal down and two of our midfielders are going off the pitch as well. It was painful to watch. I understand what De Canio said about keeping strikers on the pitch to provide a goal threat – but they can’t do that if there is nobody to provide them with the ball can they? Four in midfield with Blackstock up front by himself, helped by Rowlands and Balanta when we had the ball would have made more sense to me.

At Sheff Wed we were absolutely killing them until they made two changes before half time and after that we had no answer at all. Against Blackpool two subs by the away side saw us go from 3-0 and cruising to 3-2 and panicking. Against Wolves the late introduction of Kevin Kyle and the switch to a longer style of play got them an equaliser as we offered nothing in return. Against Hull we had them in our pocket until they made three second half changes and after that they scored and were unlucky not to win. Sheff Utd away, Burnley at home, Cardiff away – we don’t seem to have an answer when circumstances change or somebody comes at us with something a bit different.

It’s like we scout teams, we know how they play, we prepare for that, and if they deviate from it or we suffer a set back then we’ve had it. I’m not sure if you blame De Canio for this, either for not having a Plan B or for not being able to get the message across, or the players or the scouting or what. Apropos of nothing I did spend the long, tortuous second half at Carrow Road wondering if De Canio goes to the matches of future opponents like other managers or not. Was he at West Brom on Monday night for instance?

That’s an issue for another day. What does need addressing though is our response to difficult circumstances next season. Teams that win promotions are able to deal with adversity, take tricky situations in their stride and get on with it. At the moment we are not, and that must improve next season.

Discuss this on the Message Board

Thirteen users have commented on this story. Click here to add your thoughts:

You will have guessed by the name I am a Cardiff fan - I totally agree with you about the hearing of appeals.It is an absolute nonsense and whilst your article is measured and fair I beleive we will as a club take a great deal of stick about the FAW from less well mannered journalists.Truth is that last week Ridsdale said that he is considering applying to become members of the FA as quite frankly the FAW are a joke.Beleive it or not this is the first 'favour' they have ever done for Cardiff -they simply do not like our club.That doesn't make it a right decision though. Just to put the record straight Darren is not likely to play in the Cup Final as he spends nearly all of his time on the bench these days. Finally you are absolutely right,we want to play in the English system,the National Anthem is being played not at the fans request but some interfering Plaid Cymru Assembly Member trying to make political gain -I suspect he has never seen us play. Feel free to use this wherever you will-we do not want more than equitable treatment.It is difficult enough for us as a Welsh club in the English system but an awful lot of damage is being done to our credibility with the more than fair treatment we have received from the FA recently-and beleive me the FAW haven't helped our cause one iota in the eyes of many Cardiff fans. Thanks for listening and your sensible article. - Gwilym

Regarding the article so well written by Clive Whittingham (any relation to Peter?) It's a shame that the article contained a few inaccuracies. 1. I can't recall anyone connected officially or unofficially with CCFC campaigning to have the Welsh National Anthem played at Wembley. 2. You can be assured that CCFC do not want to be affiliated with the FAW. They're both inconsistant and totally unprofessional as an 'association'. 'Tin-pot' comes to mind. 3. Cardiff City CANNOT qualify for European Competitions via the FAW and have not done so for over 10 years. 4. No pressure was put on the F.A. from Cardiff, this was from UEFA. 5. I can only remember twice that the FAW have upheld appeals from Cardiff regarding red cards. There are other small errors in the article and by the way, I agree totally that the red should have stood. Incidentally, Darren Purse is a liability and I can't see him taking the pitch on May 17th. Thanks for your time, the QPR fans that I've encountered on my travels have been sound. See you next season! - Starlight

A long standing Cardiff fan here. You are quite right to be aggrieved about Purse getting his ban overturned but , in my view , wrong with many of your follow up points. Purse should have been sent off and his ban should have stood - the fact he misses the cup final is not relevant to the decision. But the F.A.W. are hardly friends of Cardiff City F.C - they have a long history of being anti all the clubs playing in the English pyramid , but especially Cardiff , as they see them as a threat to their (pitifully poor)Welsh league offering.Only once before in the last 10 years have they overturned a player ban , even when some have been obviously unfair.The reason they have done so this time is to save their acute embarassment over some press comments made by their former Secretary which casts them in a very poor right (but they don`t seem to grasp that 2 wrongs don`t make a right). As for the Welsh National Anthem bit , this is also political , and was not asked for by either CCFC fans or the club - rather by some Welsh politician with no links to the club. My personal view (and one I believe shared by a majority of CCFC fans)is that the game is between 2 clubs , not between Wales and England.Therefore neither national anthem should be played , only the traditional Abide With Me.When (and I fear it will be when rather than if) Portsmouth fans boo the Welsh anthem , then GSTQ will then be booed even more loudly in "retaliation".Embarassing and unnecessary all round. And don`t even start me off about Katherine Jenkins singing the Welsh anthem.No links with CCFC , Welsh football , or indeed football at all (she is a big rugby fan from Swansea ffs!) - K Morgan

Hi there, firstly I enjoyed your article entitled "a level playing field" - It was well written and brought up some important points. And I speak as a Cardiff fan! Nevertheless, a small amount of extra research would have yeided a few extra things to throw in for consideration, that we, as Cardiff fans, wished the footballing community in general to understand: a) We DIDN'T ask for our anthem to be played, some muppet politician asked for it. Most Cardiff fans were happy to abide by the traditions of the FA Cup final, and were more concerned about the less savoury elements of our support booing God Save The Queen. b) The (correct as you stated) Europe decision wasn't made from pressure from our club, but from UEFA themselves, saying that they'd intervene otherwise. The FA backed down, possibly because it wants to suck up for world cup bid? We did however enter this competion knowing that should we win (a thought far from our minds at lowly Chasetown), we wouldn't be playing in Europe. c) Our Club (and a lot of fans) don't want anything to do with the FAW. Our chairman has stated so publicly and can be found within the news sections of our official website. d) Further from c, Purse is indeed lucky and we think the judgement was incredibly political; a decision based on our club wishing to leave the FAW. Aside from that the article is spot on. Many thanks for your time, and keep up the good work - Taffy

Just seen your article on the Cardiff website. I have to say I agree with your version of events. Most Cardiff fans feel Purse was very lucky being dealt with so leniently. Although I should point out that usually get appeals turned down every time by the FAW. I believe Purse' s tackle was high and late but not deliberately so. Cole's actions afterwards in chasing him down the tunnel were ill advised as if he'd caught him Purse would probably now be on a life ban for murder! Anyway Purse will only be on the bench at Wembley as he's bee rubbish all season and prone to giving away penalties, own goals and picking up yellow and red cards. As for the Anthem/ FA issue, again most Cardiff fans, I think, feel that we'd be happy with Abide with me to be sung and drop the anthems, after all it's not an international. We are a Welsh club, playing in the Football League, with English players, manager and chairman. The chairman is now looking at the possibility of leaving FAW jurisdiction and becoming a member of the FA and falling under their jurisdiction. For all the reasons you state it makes sense. As for Europe, I believe we're all very grateful to the FA for the decision, and will be very proud to be representing England, the FA and the Football League - if we win! If it all goes ahead well be an English club next season which hopefully will take away a lot of the animosity between rival sets of fans. Sorry I can't comment on your player's incident as I haven't seen it. Glad to see you overcame the bad start, and I'll see you at Loftus Road next year - Tony

I have to say that every Cardiff fan I've spoken to agrees with your opinion re Purse's red card. There is a strong suspicion that this judgement is a political one. However you seem to imply that Cardiff get special treatment from the F.A.W. Sorry to be a killjoy but you have either not researched this subject or spinning the truth. Cardiff were welcomed into the Football League and are one of its oldest members all the fans are proud of that membership, so isn't it childish to imply that its time for us to leave. - Dav

Hey...forget the playoffs from several years ago - let it go will you. You've got such a chip on your shoulder about CCFC! Firstly, Cardiff fans do not want the Welsh anthem played at Wembley. Some stupid Plaid Cymru MP asked for it. This cup final is being played by two very old clubs in the football league - simple as that. Secondly - the Purse sending off...if you have eve rplayed, and studied the video footage carefully you can see Purse's eye is always on the ball. Cole JUST beats him to it and a heavy clumsy foul ensues. Sending off? Never in a month of Sundays. Goal-scoring opportunity?? What game are you watching? We'd have no players left on the pitch if we sent off for every mistimed tackle. Its the cynical deliberate fouls we want to clamp down on. As for the Welsh FA...take a look back at the history of Cardiff appeals. You will find they have done us very few favours and Cardiff would be delighted to report into the the English FA. You are so bitter and your chip on your shoulder so large, I shouldn't be wasting my time responding. But you ought not be allowed to get away with such a diatribe. - Byron Jones

Very entertaining rant that makes so many mistakes I don't know where to start, but hey - why let the facts ruin a story - that's all opinions are anyway! My view on the Darren Purse incident is that it was clumsy but not deliberate or malicious, and I have seen it on tv several times. His foot was at knee height because that's where the ball was. He mis-controlled the ball (not unusual unfortunately), and his eyes were firmly on the ball on trying to get it back, and not on Andy Cole (or am I supposed to call him Andrew these days)? We all know Mr Cole was a great footballer, and I'm sure any of us would have been pretty cheesed-off to get a gash on the leg that required 10 stitches. However, accidents do happen in football (witness the Vidic incident against Chelsea last Saturday), and I question whether Mr Cole can ever be regarded as a great player (as opposed to a great footballer), when he makes comments like he went to get Purse after the game, and he wants to p lay against him next season for retribution (let alone calling a fellow professional a muppet). Your point about Purse appealing to the FAW as opposed to the English FA is the same as Dave Jones made earlier this year, as for most of the season Cardiff have had no luck trying to get Red Cards overturned by the FAW, so Jones said he'd have more luck with the English FA instead. As it happens, I believe the English FA would have made the same decision in this case. Finally, to cover two other points. Hopefully the Euro issue will re-open the debate on how clubs can qualify for Europe from their respective competitions, as it needs to be looked at again why a welsh club (playing in England) can no longer qualify for Europe if it wins the Welsh cup, and finally the whole anthem issue was raised and discussed by politicians and administrators, not football clubs. Cardiff City did not request the Welsh anthem at Wembley, but on balance I think it's probably better to play bot h anthems rather than neither anthem, as happened at the Pla! y-off fi nal, if it keeps some people happy, and gives others something to talk about!! - Simon

As a Cardiff fan, I just came across your story about this. Let me assure you, the overwhelming majority of Cardiff fans are as shocked as you the appeal was successful this time. The concensus is that, even if unitnetional, few can argue it was a red. However, on your wider question, about whether thete is a level playing field, there ceratinly isn't. Despite this "success" Cardiff City fare much worse off with faw APPEALS THAN ENGLISH CLUBS WITH FA. For your info, it's only the 2nd time in well over a decade that the FAW has quashed a Cardiff red card. We even had a red card last month - for Hasslebaink - where Colchester's manager, goalkeeper and 4th official all gave their views it was harsh but it was still uphld. It's been so poor that Cardiff have even considered joining the FA instead. It makes it all the more baffling why Purse's was successful. - Nige

Nothing seems fair and proper in officiating in Championship much too often, Review Boards are highly politicized. DeCanio is not managing players as they are but as he would like them to be. Would want a replacement. But this is also highly politicized. - Jonnie

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